Mobility and Access in African Cities (MAC)
The primary goal of the MAC program is to enhance the capacity for research and education in the broad area of urban access and mobility within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The program aims to foster the production and dissemination of locally grounded, cross-disciplinary knowledge which offers approaches, potential solutions and innovations for addressing challenges related to urban mobility and access in SSA.
The program encompasses six core themes that have strong relevance for achieving sustainable and equitable urban mobility and access in sub-Saharan Africa:
- Theme 1: User Needs and Practices, Equity Issues
- Theme 2: Governance, Politics, Institutions and Finance
- Theme 3: Emerging Business Models and Service Options
- Theme 4: Safety, Health and the Urban Environment
- Theme 5: System Design and Modal Integration
- Theme 6: Analytical Tools
IN FOCUS 2025:
Three new African Research Programs (ARP-MACs)
This year VREF is pleased to announce the launch of three African Research Programs (ARP-MACs), following a competitive Call for Applications in 2023. The approved ARP-MACs will run to 2026 and are designed to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers and stakeholders. The thematic areas include enhancing equitable access to essential services, understanding urban mobility governance, and exploring new informal transport services.

Consortium leaders, Dr. Gladys Nyachieo, Dr. Josephine Malonza and Dr. Gift Dumedah.
IN FOCUS 2024:
1st African Transport Research Conference (ATRC)

In March 2024 VREF co-organized the 1st African Transport Research Conference in Cape Town 5-7 March 2024, together with Centre for Transport Studies at the University of Cape Town. The conference became a much appreciated and successful event, bringing researchers and experts together on the continent, to tackle the urgent transport challenges facing Africa’s rapidly urbanizing landscape.
The event highlighted the significant challenges Africa faces while showcasing the wealth of opportunities for transport professionals to advance research and solutions. ATRC 2024 marked a vital step toward fostering collaboration and innovation in sustainable transport for Africa and beyond.
Outcomes 2019-2023:
Research projects
In the first five years of the program (2019-2023), MAC initiated almost 50 multidisciplinary research projects, special studies and “think pieces” involving over 200 researchers and 10-20 Ph.D. candidates at over 100 universities in West Africa, East Africa and South Africa. Researchers within the program have also collaborated with a large number of international scholars from other world regions, as well as many non-academic organizations and stakeholders.
Community of learning
To foster communities of learning and facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge and insights from these projects and other studies, VREF organizes numerous activities, such as in-person research workshops and regular online seminars (“Research Forums”). During the first five years of the program, hundreds of scholars and others have participated in MAC Research Forums.
Education
In the area of education, MAC has initiated “Skills and Tools” short courses for building academic capacity among young scholars, as well as projects for “Catalyzing Curriculum Change” at selected African universities. Other career opportunities for young scholars in the MAC community include possibilities to receive mobility grants and awards.
For updates about MAC research, upcoming online MAC Research Forums and other activities, sign up for the MAC newsletter via the form below, and follow VREF on LinkedIn. Contact: If you have questions or ideas, don’t hesitate to contact VREF at secretariat@vref.se.
Read more: Roadmap for Programme implementation
Funding, Publications, Research Projects:
Newsletter
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